Year 6 · SPaG · Autumn: Phrases and clauses
Year 6 modal verbs worksheet and PowerPoint
To recognise modal verbs and use them to show possibility, ability, permission, advice and obligation.
Modal verbs
A modal verb goes before another verb and shows how certain, able, allowed or necessary something is. It never changes its form (she can, not she cans).
| certain | will, must: the parcel will arrive |
|---|---|
| probable | should, would, ought to: the parcel should arrive |
| possible | might, may, could: the parcel might arrive |
| other jobs | ability (can swim), permission (may leave), advice (should rest), obligation (must wear) |
Examples
- It might rain. (possible)
- You must wear a helmet. (obligation)
Key words
- modal verb
- a verb like can, might or must that goes before another verb
- possibility
- how likely something is
- permission
- being allowed to do something
- obligation
- something you have to do
What is on the worksheet
Every sheet for this lesson has a short teaching box and 12 questions that get gradually harder: 8 fluency questions, then 4 reasoning questions that ask pupils to explain or choose. A writing challenge follows. The questions use the same styles as the key stage 2 grammar and punctuation test (circle, underline, tick, fill the gap, add punctuation, rewrite, explain). They are written for this website, not copied from past papers.
All the answers are on the last page of the same editable Word file. New questions are made every time, so you can print a different sheet for every group or for homework. The same sheet code always gives the same sheet.
Writing challenge: Write the rules for a new school club. Use must, should, may and can, and say which job each modal verb does.
Pupil target: I can use modal verbs for different jobs.
The PowerPoint
A 20-slide lesson deck for the same lesson: a starter that revisits earlier learning, key words, an I do and a You do question on each slide with a countdown timer, answers that appear one click at a time, and a challenge. Download the modal verbs PowerPoint.
Where this lesson fits
This is lesson 14 of 72 in the Year 6 SPaG scheme, in the Autumn term, block “Phrases and clauses”. It is taught before the SATs grammar test in May.
Other lessons in this block
- Expanded noun phrases
- Main and subordinate clauses
- Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
- Relative clauses
- Adverbs of possibility
This site is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Standards and Testing Agency or the Department for Education.